Despite losing influential scrum half Neil Cronin to a leg injury early on, the Light Blues had the better of the first half and led 7-3 at the interval.

After Clontarf's Richie Lane missed a penalty, James McInerney put the Limerick side in front with a try which Andrew O'Byrne converted.

Lane replied with a well-struck 'Tarf penalty after 26 minutes and the experienced winger added a try out wide, five minutes into the second half, to edge his side in front.

A penalty by O'Byrne and a try by talismanic captain David Sherry, converted by O'Byrne, had Garryowen 17-8 in front.

Lane kicked a 78th minute penalty to keep the north Dubliners' interest alive. Garryowen had to cope with Shane Buckley's sin-binning, but they survived to finish the season on a high.

Scorers:

Garryowen: Tries: James McInerney, David Sherry; Cons: Andrew O'Byrne 2; Pen: Andrew O'Byrne

Clontarf: Try: Richie Lane; Pens: Richie Lane 2

HT: Garryowen 7 Clontarf 3